I feel as though there should be some celebration for post number 13. A party around a cauldron, perhaps?

We are getting ready for the LA exhibition, things aren’t slowing down a bit, and I have to get something up about San Diego Comic Con so that I can write a post before leaving for California again- we are all racking up the frequent flyer miles, that is certain.

Crowds begin to form at the San Diego Convention Center, from Dave McKean's hotel window

Ummm… what do I remember? Setup was long but not too difficult, opening night was upon us before we could blink. The big news opening night? Kildanny.

I have footage somewhere of Jeremy Bastian‘s expression of surprise when he saw his character come to life thanks to my friend Lex Rudd of Primal Visions. We publish Jeremy’s book Cursed Pirate Girl, and Kildanny is a character in a tale that Cursed Pirate Girl weaves to scare some young boys. (Cursed Pirate Girls are known to like to scare boys. For fun.) Cameras were flashing NONSTOP all weekend, and the amount of photos online are wonderful. Here’s one:

The dreaded pirate Kildanny, from Jeremy Bastian's Cursed Pirate Girl

Jeremy Bastian, comparing moustaches with Kildanny-come-to-life

So as you can imagine, he was very happy, which made me very happy!

The rest is a bit of a blur. We’ll make a formal announcement soon about our new artists, but in brief: Lisa Black’s sculptures were a massive hit and everything sold, with them entering some pretty impressive collections. Boingboing.com and Wired put them in their Comic Con review, and io9.com listed them under “The 17 most expensive things at Comic Con“…

I was very happy that my sister/sweetheart/partner-in-crime Sioux Sinner drove in from Las Vegas to help out. Her Doctor Who-related tattoos of a Dalek and an Adipose were quite the conversation starters for the boys. Something that happens a lot at these shows is that pretty girls get hired to be “booth babes” and pass out postcards for whatever crap someone is promoting, so the ongoing joke with how successful our show was that obviously all we needed was a booth babe. (Just to be clear, that was a joke. Sioux is very smart and was there for non-booth babe reasons.)

Reason number one being David Tennant, current lead in the legendary BBC programme Doctor Who, who was at the show, along with producer Russel T. Davies and cast members from the fantastic spin-off Torchwood, which has become massively successful in the US.

Doctor... Tennant? Not really. (Notice the girl in the back pointing at him?)

I am one of the people who has come to like Torchwood perhaps even MORE than Doctor Who, and was happy that Sioux brought star John Barrowman (affectionately known to the world as Captain Jack Harkness) to our booth. He had just watched the movie “Freaks” with his sister, and was SO excited about Gail Potocki‘s new Freak series that I wish I had it on camera… he was very charming, and explained that as he and his sister watched the film they looked up facts on the internet. Gail had done quite a bit of serious research, and he knew trivia that even she didn’t about her subjects!

The charming John Barrowman discussing Gail Potocki's Freak paintings

'Pip' from Gail Potocki's new Freaks series. (Who, thanks to John Barrowman, we now know was incontinent- hence the dress...)

During set-up, we teased Gail that her Freaks prints were going out in the hallway because she was “old news” behind Jeremy Bastian and Dave McKean. After the hysterical fun that the VERY charming John Barrowman brought into our booth she joked, “Don’t underestimate Pip- he saved the day! Even though you tried to stick me out in the hallway.”

John Barrowman joking with Gail Potocki

Founding members of the Freak Appreciation Society

Of course, the painting “Destiny” by Dave McKean was a huge hit, and the Transmission Atelier prints of Dave’s Nitrate series sold VERY well. When Dave approached the booth, he said, “Hmmm… I like my billing- over Klimt, not too bad!”, something Gail had joked about during set-up…

Sioux seemed to run into the most random people while she wandered; Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, cast members from Torchwood, True Blood, Twilight… the best story of all is when she pushed Stan Lee’s wheelchair around, but it’s sunrise here and I need to sleep.

Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (creators of The Venture Brothers) with Sioux Sinner, right after she unknowingly crashed their interview- Not kidding.

I keep waiting to make a post until I’m properly recuperated, but it doesn’t seem that it’s ever going to happen; the leviathan of Century Guild is rolling forward, picking up velocity and branches and leaving happy kids everywhere, just as Sammy Davis, Jr. predicted. If I don’t take a moment now I’ll never catch up.

After weeks of preparation for the one-two punch of Nitrate and Kinogeists in Chicago and SDCC in San Diego (the materials headed for SD had to be prepared packed to leave well in advance), Dave McKean arrived on Thursday July 16th, which was the beginning of the public phase of the military operation. We stopped for a moment at home, then on to the book store. The signing at Challengers was wonderful, lots of friendly faces (as evidenced below!)

At the end of the night, Jack cornered me on the subject of this being the beginning of a long, long two weeks of public appearances…

The next morning, Dave and I met artists Alex Ross, Doug Klauba, and filmmaker John Terendy for a magnificent lunch at a dramatically underrated Logan Square restaurant, Real Tenochtitlan. (Dave knew how to pronounce it, I didn’t.)

Then off to the Portage Theater to begin the weekend…

Marquee at the Portage Theater (photo, Jeff Millies)

When Dave and I arrived, the line stretched all through the theater; he hadn’t prepared to be signing as we thought the first day would be a casual artist’s reception, but he was graceful and everyone left more than a little bit happy. We were lucky that Allen Spiegel sent us a nice selection of rare and out-of-print Dave McKean material; treasures were found by all. In addition to the exhibition of five massive Nitrate paintings by Dave McKean, this event also launched the Transmission Atelier editions of Dave’s homages to early cinema, the Nitrate series. (For the earlier post on these breathtaking prints, see here.)

Dave McKean signing books at the historic Portage Theater

Dave signing his Tarot books; (here and above photographed by VAM- go to aisforaccident.com and visit him, you'll be glad you did.)

The night (d)evolved into a wonderful cocktail party, one of the nice things that can happen in an old theater that serves up alcohol. A huge sea of friendly faces wandered through, studying the giant Dave McKean paintings and rare antique European Silent Film posters, and after a few hours we all moved into the theater. The three photos below were taken by Dave, from his twitter:

'Original 1926 poster and my painting of The Student of Prague.' -DM

Oona Tramps and Michelle L'Amour performing onstage before Faust

'Faust painting and the moment in the film that it is based on, the live organist is the dot of light below right.' -DM

The high point of the weekend for Dave was learning from John Terendy the name of the film for the painting that until now had been called “Méliès (Untitled)”. Thanks to John, original materials were presented to Dave that showed the still that inspired the painting to have come from the 1901 film La phrénologie burlesque. Both Dave AND the painting were happy!

Copy #1 of the now properly titled 'La phrénologie burlesque', Transmission Atelier edition on special paper- a gift to John Terendy for his sleuthing.

More photos below; thanks to everyone who came. It was a wonderful weekend!

THURSDAY, JULY 16

At the Challengers signing Thursday July 16th, pre-paid attendees to the Portage Theater exhibition may have FIVE outside items signed, as well as an unlimited number of purchased products. (This means that if you’re enough of a Dave McKean fan to come and see his paintings, you can get five things signed!)

6-7pm: CBLDF charity event. “Dave McKean kicks off his Chicago exhibition weekend with a CBLDF benefit! A Salute to International Multi-Media Visionary and Graphic Novel Innovator Dave McKean- hosted by Century Guild. July 19th, 6-7 pm.” Visit cbldf.org for details and ticket information.

7-9pm: Artist’s Reception. Six of Dave McKean’s massive Nitrate paintings will be on display, cash bar, the artist will be present.

Please note that Dave will only be signing books bought at the event during this time. A number of his hard-to-find art books (prices start at $15) including out of print material will be available, as well as Nitrate and Kinogeists program and event posters.

6-7pm: Dave McKean book signing. Please limit to five outside items per person, and there is no signing limit on additional items bought at theater. A number of his hard-to-find art books (prices start at $15) including out of print material will be available, as well as Nitrate and Kinogeists program and event posters. Everyone in line by 6pm will be accommodated.

7-9pm: Dave McKean’s short films screened in theater. A rare opportunity to see Dave’s short films, plus special surprises- including something for fans of The Batman…

Watch for these on a lightpost or abandoned building near you next weekend!

xO
T

Nitrate and Kinogeists weekend. (18x24)

Friday night, a special screening of Faust in Dave's honor. (11x17)

Saturday night, Mirrormask. People need to see this on the big screen!!! Dave's vision is so much more than works on paper, and between the large paintings in the lobby, his short films, and this movie, this weekend will be a fantastic way to experience the totality of his breathtaking art. Allen Spiegel described this movie as "being inside Dave McKean's head for an hour and a half." (Which I think sounds wonderful.) (11x17)

Jim Kay of Transmission Atelier: “I brought all of my gear- lights, monitors, and computers- into Tom’s bedroom so that I could color correct our edition prints of these Dave McKean paintings for the umpteenth pass. I barely even noticed all the dirty laundry on the floor. Barely.”

Jim Kay with multiple color variations of "Méliès (Untitled)" checks them against the monitor.

Jim and I have spent a lot of time together in my bedroom these past weeks. Alone.

Checking the prints against the original Dave McKean painting

Hour four.

What Jim Kay sees (1).

What Jim Kay sees (2).

Bob Reveley: “The things we do for Gail Potocki and her garden.”

Upside? Bob gets to be outside. Downside? He is digging a trench.

Lyta and Lucyfur supervise Bob's gravedigging... from the cushy chaise on the back porch.

Meanwhile, down in the cellar… (Jack will kill me if I pretend to be him and type something here.)

Jack hard at work on the posters for the Nitrate and Kinogeists weekend.

Thomas Negovan: “While Jack rots in the cellar and Bob wallows in the dirt, I ascend the staircase to the tower where the library resides. In the recording studio, we are transported to Berlin in 1923; I use the wall space in here to hang silent film posters as I work on the Kinogeists book. Giant originals, and for sake of space, small prints that Jim from Transmission Atelier custom produces for my endeavor.”

Ok, I wouldn’t really use the word “endeavor” in a sentence, but it reads well. The last photo shows not only my desk, but how much more sunlight I get than Jack. I do, however, somehow still match him in pastiness.

“What you fellows did here is more relevant than anything up on our floor…”

Thus spake one of the directors of Art Chicago, one of the world’s most impressive contemporary art fairs.

Although we were on the “traditional” art floor, we proved that what was old is… in this case, sadly… cutting-edge new again. We put together a show that was all gallows humor and intoxicating escapism, and from the overwhelming reaction and camera flashes going off all weekend, Century Guild was a runaway hit; the Chicago Tribune mentioned us as one of the fifteen “must see” things in the show.

Sex. Drugs. Disease. Starvation. Anarchy. These were the themes that we decided the night before setup at Artropolis would replace the beautiful Art Nouveau we had been planning to bring to the International Art Fair for months. Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele made the cut: a saucy nude, lifting her breasts seemed right at home in the aforementioned company. A gothic syphilis poster stared from across the wall at this young and healthy girl; it was a daring contrast.

The show was two weeks ago, but it’s 2:41 and I need to go to bed, so a quick recap: (please note that I grew a beard in an attempt to pass as an adult.)

Sex: in health, (Gustav Klimt, in magnificent period frame)

and sickness...

A charming tale about an Anarchist uprising resulting in the murders of the bourgeois rich in the forests of Paris. We're currently trying to place this in the Human Resources department at AIG.

Opium, 1919- this is one of the unbelievably rare silent film posters featured in our upcoming Nitrate and Kinogeists exhibition.

Art Nouveau treasures.

Gail Potocki shows her dark side...

Jack was attacked by creeping baby-things; he survived, but not unscathed.

Jack and Thomas, posed in front of their cocaine-addled portraits.

Thomas Negovan, Gail Potocki, and Stuart Tomc in front of 1909 anti-alcoholism poster where 'even the baby had too much to drink at the party' according to five year old Sebastian Tomc.

Jack, Bob, and painters Gail Potocki and Brian Sindler at the end of a long show.

What could inspire me to take down an 1880s Pre-Raphaelite pastel from the wall of my boudoir? Yes, the inheritance of a castle in Tuscany might be reason to pack everything up and head to the docks; but I mean, assuming that I am continuing to sleep in said room and want to wake up to something beautiful and inspirational…?

I met Dave McKean in passing at the 2004 San Diego Comic Con. We spoke briefly about Egon Schiele and- a mutual favorite- the visionary Jean Cocteau.

Our second contact was this last summer, again at the San Diego Comic Con. I was happy to see Dave walking up toward our booth and reintroduced myself. In the course of the afternoon, talks went from the Vienna Secession to German Expressionism, and rested on…

Silent Cinema.

Dave McKean, Kristan and Grant Morrison, Thomas Negovan, and Gail Potocki in front of the Century Guild booth after San Diego Comic Con 2008

The visuals of the silent film period are something that I am very passionate about, and with our other mutual interests it made sense that this would be an area of interest to Dave. What I could never have imagined was that silent films are what inspired him to become an artist in the first place, and that he had just recently begun honoring that inspiration with a series of new works titled “Nitrate”.

The Student of Prague (Henrik Galeen, 1926) by Dave McKean, 2008

I acquired three of the works before you could walk from one end of the convention center to the other (which takes a pretty long time, actually, but you know what I mean) and after storing them for a few months had them delivered to Chicago just this past weekend. As good as I knew they would be, having seen Dave McKean artworks in person before, these FAR and away exceeded my expectations, and I will say without hesitation that they are his finest work. Textural and sculptural, symbolist and expressionist, haunting and romantic, I have lost sleep admiring them late, late at night. And for the last two days? I can’t wake up soon enough to see them.

Der müde Tod (The Tired Death)... Better known to us Americans as the film Destiny. And, yes, that is a velvet Wizard's cloak (from the Lyric Opera, circa 1918) on the back of my door.

Untitled (Méliès) by Dave McKean, 2008

We (Century Guild) are hosting an exhibition of Dave McKean’s Nitrate paintings July 17th and 18th at the Portage Theater in Chicago. Six of these masterpieces will be on display, along with a collection of rare silent cinema posters for historically important titles such as the seminal horror serial Homunkulus, the decadent 1919 story Opium, the early Fritz Lang- scripted film Totentanz (The Dance of Death)- with many of these posters, the examples on display are believed to be the only copies to have survived the wars and turbulence of the last century, especially in Germany in the time during and following the second World War.

Nitrate and Kinogeists exhibition postcard- July 17-18 in Chicago

I cannot recommend this exhibition highly enough. We have some special surprises planned, are screening some of the films that inspired the films, and will show Dave’s magical film collaboration with Neil Gaiman, the fantastic MirrorMask…

We’re still working out the schedule; there will be a cocktail party for the CBLDF on Friday as a prelude to the opening, and we know the main show times, but we want to add some other silent films that inspired the Dave McKean paintings on the big screen during the weekend. Check http://www.centuryguild.net for updates.

Perhaps most importantly, for information on acquiring original and limited edition prints from the show, contact the gallery at “inquiries at centuryguild.net”

(In the meantime, my dog claims she is having strange dreams from “The Tired Death” silently watching her as she sleeps…)

xO
T

Century Guild exhibition Nitrate and Kinogeists; July 17th features a screening of the gothic silent masterpiece Faust. Image on poster: Faust (F.W. Murnau, 1926) by Dave McKean, 2008

Recently evicted Pre-Raphaelite maiden, having a light conversation with her new neighbour, a Parisian Métropolitain shield by Hector Guimard (1900).